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U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for August 10

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 10: FIREWORKS

Profile America -- Tuesday, August 10th. For people who love fireworks displays, there's only one place to be through Friday -- the annual convention of the Pyrotechnics Guild International at the Wisconsin International Raceway near Appleton. The purpose is to promote the design and safe display of the finest quality pyrotechnics. Along with seminars and workshops, there will be fireworks events each evening as the professionals compete for the title of "grand master." The guild's emblem is the "green man," going back to the 17th century, when the person shooting off fireworks covered himself with fresh leaves for protection from sparks. U.S. firms make more than $331 million worth of fireworks each year -- and we import another $217 million worth, mostly from China. Profile America is in its 14th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: Pyrotechnics Guild International

U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB10-FF.12

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau